By now most people are realizing the benefits of a more eco-friendly lifestyle. It not only benefits the environment, but it can save them money in the process.

However, many people view a move towards green living as something that requires a lot of work and sacrifices. This couldn’t be further from the truth! We have gathered some easy tips for you to reduce your energy use in your home and in turn, save you some “green” while you’re going green!

Watch Your Water

This can seem rather obvious but many people still don’t monitor their water use. Simple ways to do this include taking shorter showers and never letting the sink run when not in use. Only using your dishwasher or washing machine when there is a full load will save you bundles in the long run as well. Also, using cold water to wash your clothes not only costs less, but is generally better for the clothes than hot water.

The same goes for your hot water heater: turning it down a few degrees will not have an impact on your day to day life. The recommended temperature setting for a water heater is 120 degrees to get the most energy savings while allowing it to still do its job.

Hit the Lights

Lighting can often times be the biggest part of a home’s energy use. However, many people still haven’t made any adjustments to remedy this. There are more eco-friendly light bulbs on the market now than ever before, so finding them should never be an issue. Consider replacing all the light bulbs in your house with the “green” versions, even if they aren’t burnt out.

Also, simply using light sparingly can help dramatically reduce costs. Don’t turn on the lights during the day; just draw back the shades instead, and only turn the lights on during the night when you’re in the room. Dimmers are also a great way to control your energy use by reducing the amount of electricity used by the light bulb.

Check Your Numbers

When it comes to saving on home energy, it’s all about numbers. Small numbers, like the watts or lumens of light bulbs can add up to bigger numbers in your wallet. Also, numbers like your home temperature are important to keep track of. Installing a programmable thermostat will help you control your home temperature, even when you’re not there. Keeping track of the numbers on your meter is another good way to play check and balance with your home energy. You can even keep track of and modify your energy use as often as every 15 minutes if you chose to install a fit interval-metering system.

Going green also extends to your appliances. If you’re wanting to make the switch to a more environmentally friendly appliances or just want to check out your options, give us a call at RS Andrews and we’ll be glad to talk you through our most energy-efficient options.